imported under safe-conducts be made to civil population under neutral supervision outside as at present inside. Our Rotterdam office has been instructed to feed French or Belgian refugees arriving in Holland, estimated at perhaps one-quarter million. These are now approaching Dutch frontier. In case of peaceful evacuation by Germans this movement into Holland can probably be stopped. We have authorized our representatives in Brussels and Rotterdam to make out of Relief supplies or funds in Belgium or Holland whatever expenditures may be urgently required for providing coal, clothing, shelter, food, for refugees wherever they may be. If the evacuation is forced by combat we believe that the food reserves will be practically eliminated in the released territories and that few persons will remain, certainly not over 25 per cent, and that the evacuées into still occupied territory or Holland, numbering several millions, will be dependent entirely upon imports. This will require increased monthly imports [for] them of about one-third to replace lost native ration, or if France and Flanders entirely evacuated and devastated would require 10,000 tons additional imports of food per month. Situation changing rapidly and we will keep you advised of developments. Necessary to foresee that when civil population now receiving 2,000 calories is released from enemy domination they will demand same food supply as people of France and England, namely, 3,000 calories, which would require increase of food imports of 55,000 to 65,000 tons monthly. In conference with management of Red Cross in France I stated we expected they would handle local charitable emergency requirements of released territories. This seems provided for in Belgium but the position as to civil relief in France by Red Cross not entirely defined [owing] to overwhelming demands of military situation. I have been asked to consult with Red Cross management as to conduct of charitable work in released territories and have said C.R.B. always glad to furnish advice but without any official connection. Detailed reports by letter. Am having report from Doctor Leach of ravitaillement conditions during last year, etc., in released territories, St. Mihiel, St. Quentin, Cambrai, and Roulers. Poland, Relief Commission. File No. 855.48/797 LAUGHLIN The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Great Britain (Laughlin) Your 706. 2003. For Crosby from Rathbone: Treasury No. 484. Embassy's 2728, October 11, 5 p. m. For Davis: Commission for Relief in Belgium is entitled to reimbursement from British Government in dollars approximately 2,200,000. See our 499.1 For flour C.R.B. is obligated to reimburse Wheat Executive in dollars about one million. See cable of Relief Commission in London of October 10 to Relief Commission here.1 Proposed reimbursement of British Treasury for 20,000,000 rations should be net amount after figuring reimbursements for freights and for flour above mentioned. C.R.B. states it can make this net reimbursement without increasing its dollar demands on French and Belgian Governments. In view of urgency and importance and without constituting precedent we will consent to such net reimbursement up to f.o.b. cost on advices that rations purchased in United States actually delivered on understanding that replacement will be made from United States. Distribution of rations should be made under such supervision or by such agencies as Crosby approves. LANSING File No. 103.97/471 The Chargé in Great Britain (Laughlin) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] LONDON, October 16, 1918, 9 p. m. 2869. For Hoover from Poland: C.R.B. 131. Wednesday. Your 80.2 We are entirely in accord. Most of steps you outlined have been taken as per my 129 and by subsequent action. No indications yet that refugees have entered Holland but French Government have approached Dutch asking them to shelter refugees and have asked us to allocate supplies required or agree to recompense Dutch later in case they provide foodstuff from local stocks. To all of this I have agreed N[etherlands] O[versea] T[rust] conditions to be observed. British have approved action. Germans apparently making efforts to remove for feeding civil population all relief stocks as evacuations proceed and have agreed in case of failure to make good deficit. Only small numbers of people at present remaining behind, but these conditions may change. At joint meeting with British concerning 50,000 tons reserve rations it appeared that whatever stocks necessary can be provided, as you suggest, in small part from Great Britain or from stocks now in France. Feeding of the people in early stages at least can be entirely cared for by British, French, Belgian military organizations assisted by their civil committees already organized, without the intervention of Commission. This in accordance with my suggestion to French and Belgian Governments which I knew were in accord with your views. In addition British military have arranged to provide 20,000,000 emergency rations, and French military now being asked to do same. In all this emergency work behind the line my position has been that the Commission is only concerned in helping obtain assurance that all adequate provisions are being made and acting as intermediary when necessary. American Treasury representatives London confused director C.I.R.1 with director C.R.B. and advised Treasury that I recommend the 20,000,000 British military rations to be paid for out of C.R.B. funds. While I consider it imperative that respective Armies feed released populations, they alone being able to carry out distribution and accountability, I did not make above recommendation, nor do I believe Commission should be involved in any way, but that adjustments should be made between respective Governments alone. I have, however, advised that if the price of assurance of feeding the civil populations by the military is that same be paid out of Commission funds, I am of course in accord if you approve. I am sure both French and British military have always planned to take this action. Concerning aid for refugees in Holland I took tentative steps in Paris to re-collect C.R.B. men and think we can count on a number. Of course all important decisions will be referred to you. Poland, Relief Commission. LAUGHLIN File No. 855.48/808 Memorandum of the Assistant Secretary of State (Phillips) to the Secretary of State October 18, 1918. DEAR MR. SECRETARY: The Belgian Minister tells me that Mr. Hoover has telegraphed to the Relief Commission in Belgium to begin preparation for future disbandment of the work of the Commission in other words to prepare to turn it over to the Belgian authorities. De Cartier thinks this is a great mistake; that Mr. Hoover is moving too rapidly although his intentions are good, and wants us to stay Mr. Hoover's hand.2 W. PHILLIPS File No. 855.48/799b The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Great Britain (Laughlin) [Telegram] WASHINGTON, October 19, 1918, 3 p. m. 2302. For Poland from Hoover: For your own information and for reasons will communicate later, Belgian Government may ask and it may be insisted by American 1 Commission Internationale de Ravitaillement. 'According to a note in the files, Mr. Phillips brought the Minister's views orally to the attention of Mr. Hoover on Oct. 29. Government that C.R.B. continue through reconstruction period. If so, will ask have all relations precisely defined by President. LANSING File No. 855.48/807a The Secretary of State to the Chargé in Great Britain (Laughlin) [Telegram] WASHINGTON, October 23, 1918, 4 p. m. 2358. For Poland Crevooh [sic] from Hoover: Yours C.R.B. 132.1 I feel you should have stood upon the agreement by which all Relief foodstuff is immune "for the suffering civil population in Belgium" under the German safe-conduct contracts. This surely implies the population released by evacuation. as well as that held. Also, I fear that even if the Germans refuse to agree that you send food behind the Allied lines our ultimate course must be to do it anyway, for we cannot be placed in position of starving these people at German request. If Germans refuse, you have no other course than to ask Admiral Sims to call in all Relief boats and convoy them to Rotterdam. You can only wait for German reply for a certain time without jeopardizing released population during which the French and British military ration will take care of the population. In the meantime send American delegate to each committee headquarters in order to keep in touch directly with the feeding situation and to ultimately deal between Rotterdam and such committees. I would suggest obtaining as many of the following as you need in first instance: Robert Jackson, Percy, Wellington, Wickes, Withington, Stockton, Kittredge, Dorsey Stevens. File No. 855.48/802 LANSING The Chargé in Great Britain (Laughlin) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] 3034. For Hoover [from] C.R.B.: LONDON, October 23, 1918. 138. Wednesday. At meeting of French, British, Belgian representatives under auspices Wheat Executive today, French Government stated they were in position to care for all immediate needs of their released population. It is understood British military 'Not printed. I will turn over over as requested to Belgian intendance 20,000,000 rations for released territories. Belgian Government have 20,000,000 rations stored principally in Paris which they will immediately bring up. It is understood Belgian Government will approach French to obtain assurances from them that they may count on additional supplies if necessary for their liberated districts. I have suggested adjustments and settlements be made through Inter-Allied Food Council, London, and have told Belgians they must take up with United States concerning credits to cover same. Brown and Van den Branden starting today investigate conditions in Flanders. Have not yet heard from Germans regarding sending Rotterdam supplies into released territory. LAUGHLIN File No. 855.48/804 The Chargé in Great Britain (Laughlin) to the Secretary of State [Telegram] LONDON, October 24, 1918. 3075. For Hoover [from Poland]: 140. Thursday. Your unnumbered October 24 [23] in answer to our 132.1 My 138 explains that with the 20,000,000 British military rations and 20,000,000 balanced rations held in reserve by Belgian Government the 800,000 people of the released population Belgian territory should be protected for nearly two months. In addition we have several thousand tons supplies in Rotterdam imported without German safe-conduct and shall receive considerably more from the United Kingdom under these circumstances. Although we have technical right to ship German safe-conduct supplies into released territories, in view of critical situation of 7,500,000 people still in occupied territory should Germans seek to take advantage of what they might claim to be violation on our part, I thought it best to be safe and demand their acquiescence, particularly as in view of their refusing we shall have time to despatch cargoes without safe-conducts direct from United Kingdom to Flushing to meet demand of released territories. I assume in this case vessels would be despatched to convenient British or French ports, thence conveyed to Flushing. Am discussing with Admiralty and Admiral Sims. Poland. LAUGHLIN 1Not printed. |